Method of treating wood



UNITE JAMES HENRY MQDANIEL, OF WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, OHIO.

METHOD OF TREATING WOOD. I

No Drawing.

To all whom it may cancer-n:

Be it known that I, JAMES HENRY M0- DANIEL, a citizen of the United States,- and a resident of Washington Court House, in the county of Fayette and State of Ohio, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Treating Wood, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method for the treatment of wood and has for its object .the provision of a process for neutralizing wood separators which are employed for insulating storage batteries and in which the wood is impregnated with a water soluble chemical whichwill neutralize the natural acid content and render the natural vegetable oils chemically inactive.

This invention will be best understood 'from a consideration of the following de tailed description; nevertheless it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications which shall define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In carrying out my invention the wood cut to the shapeof the insulators must be treated with a water soluble chemical such as an aqueous solution of sodium bisulphide dissolved in clear water, in the proportion by weight of 1 to 3, an alkali solution of caustic soda consisting of 10% by weight of the soda and 90% by weight of water, or an aqueous salt solution of potassiumpermanganate, containing 10% of the potas sium salt and 90% water.

These solutions when, combined or used separately and impregnated in the wood will neutralize the natural acid content and the natural vegetable oils so that the wood will be free of such elements which are deleterious to the flow of current and the electrolysis of the metal plates of a battery that are insulated by the wood, and furthermore by such treatment the cells of the wood will Y under not break down by long immersion.

The wood shaped to size are placed in a' retort-which is heremetically sealed and a vacuum drawn. The water soluble chemical is introduced into the retort from a charging tank in a manner that the degree of vacuum is not disturbed and the vacuum is maintained for a period which will insure a rapid impregnation of the wood with the chemical solution.

Application filed April' 7, 1924. Serial 1T0. 704,881.

When the retort or treating cylinder is filled with the solution, a 'hydrostatic pressure is then produced by pumping the neutralizing solution into the retort from charging tanks until a pressure is obtained that will insure a sufiicient penetration of the wood by the neutralizing solution. The solution is heatedby means of steam coils in the charging tank to atemperature of 100 degrees F. or to a predetermined temperature to insure penetration but which will not be injurious to the wood cells. A temperature is maintained in the retort by the steam ,coils in advance of the admission of the solution to maintain the temperature of the solution when introduced into the retort from the charging tanks.

At the end of the impregnating period the solution is then forced back to the charging tanks by means of pumps or air pressure After draining the retort of solution a vacuum is drawn in the retort of suflicient degree and duration to recover that portion of the free solution in the wood that can be drawn out, which is then drained off.

The wood is then subjectedto a similar process in which clear water is used as a leach, at a temperature not exceeding 100 degrees F. with a subsequent final vacuum drawn of suflicient degree and duration to recover as much of the water from the wood retain a certain amount of moisture not del eterious to its use.

What I claim is:

1. A process for forming wood separators for batteries which comprises placing wood cut to shape in a retort, creatinga vacuum in the tank, charging a solution of sodium bisulphide, sodium hydroxide, and potassium permanganate into the retort, maintaining the solution under pressure and heating the same to 100 degrees F., withdrawing the solution, again creatin a vacuum in the retort, charging free water into the retort, and maintaining the same pressure and heating the water to approximately 100 degrees F., removing the water and again creating a vacuum in the retort.

2. A process for forming wood separators for batteries which comprises placing wood cut to shape in a retort, charging a solution of sodium bisulphide, sodium hydroxide, and potassium permanganate into the retort, maintaining the solution under pressure and heating the same to 100 degrees F., withdrawing the solution, creating a vacuum in the retort, charging fresh Water into the retort, and maintaining the same under pressure and heating the water to approximately 100 degrees F, removing the water and again creating a vacuum in the retort.

3. A process for forming wood separators for batteries which comprises placing wood cut to shape in a retort, creating a vacuum in the tank, charging a solution of sodium bisulphide, sodium hydroxide and potassium permanganate into the retort, heating said solution approximately 100 degrees F., withdrawing the solution and then charging fresh water into the retort, maintaining the same under pressure and heatin the water to approximately 100 degrees removing the water and again creating a vacuum in the retort.

4. A process for forming wood separators for batteries which comprises placing wood cut to shape in a retort, charging a solution of sodium bisulphide, sodium hydroxide, and potassium permanganate into the retort, maintaining the solution under pressure and heating the same to 100 degrees F., withdrawing the solution, and creating a Vacuum in the retort.

5. A process for forming wood separators for batteries which comprises placing wood cut to shape in a retort, creating a vacuum .in the tank, charging a solution of sodium tion of potasslum permanganate, contain ing 10% by weight of potassium permanganate and 90% by weight of water.

JAMES HENRY MCDANIEL. 

